We blog about career trends, the future job market, and higher education in Minnesota.

Month: November 2012

According to new data from the state’s Labor Market Information Office, 10 of 11 employment sectors are projected to experience job growth in the 23 counties in southwest Minnesota between 2010 and 2020. In all, employment is expected to increase by 10 percent, adding 21,000 new jobs to the southwest economy. By 2020, it’s estimated that employment will increase to 227,716 jobs, with education and health services leading the way.

The eleven-county area of southeast Minnesota is projected expand its labor market by 14 percent by the year 2020. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Labor Market Information Office projects that employment across all industries in southeast Minnesota will rise to nearly 292,000 jobs during that time.

Central Minnesota was the fastest growing region over the last decade, and is projected to lead the state in job growth again in the next ten years. From 2010 to 2020, the 13-county Central Minnesota region is projected to gain more than 50,000 new jobs, an 18.3 percent increase, according to new data from the state’s Labor Market Information Office. This growth is nearly five percentage points faster than the state as a whole.

The Northwest Minnesota economy is projected to grow by 14.4 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to new data from the state’s Labor Market Information Office. By 2020, it’s estimated that there will be 36,240 new jobs across the region’s industry sectors, with even more jobs available as people retire or otherwise leave their professions.Continue reading →

The Northeast Minnesota economy is projected to grow by 13.1 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to new data from the state’s Labor Market Information Office. By 2020, it’s estimated that there will be 20,350 new jobs across the region’s industry sectors, with even more jobs available as people retire or otherwise leave their professions.

A few years ago my mom, who was unemployed at the time, took a part-time job at a local department store during the holiday season. This job didn’t pay as much as the job she was laid off from and the hours were not her preference. However, the job was a great fit for my mom’s skill set, particularly her communication and customer service expertise, and it provided some much needed income during the holidays. Today, my mom still works at that department store. Her temporary job turned into a permanent one; she’s now a manager.

The unemployment rate is an important measure of economic health; however, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Unemployment rates are produced monthly in each state and for the country as a whole, but these rates can be broken down further to better illustrate the rates for different groups of people. One factor that greatly impacts a group’s unemployment rate is educational attainment. Some jobs require higher education levels, like a college degree, while others do not, leading to variation in the nature of the work and the unemployment rate by education level.

MinnesotaWorks.net will host a career fair on Thursday, November 29 at the Marriott Minneapolis NW in Brooklyn Park from 10 AM to 3 PM. Employers and educational institutions will be on hand for interviews and to answer questions. The event is open to all job seekers and there is no fee to attend.

MinnesotaWorks.net will host a career fair on Thursday, November 29 at the Marriott Minneapolis NW in Brooklyn Park from 10 AM to 3 PM. Employers and educational institutions will be on hand for interviews and to answer questions. The event is open to all job seekers and there is no fee to attend.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” might be a question that is tailored toward kids, but the heart of the question is relevant to any student or job seeker. While you might know what kind of job you want, it’s difficult to know if it is the right position for you without an on-the-job experience. Just like test driving a car, you can test out a career before you commit to it. This is called work-based learning, and can include volunteering, internships, and apprenticeships.